Tinker Hill Trail
The Tinker Hill Trail in Hadley, Massachusetts is a moderate 3.1 mile loop hike located at the end of Chmura Rd. There is plenty of parking at the end of this dead end road. This is a very popular hiking and mountain biking location and offers many trails, however nearly all of them are unmarked. While the area is not incredibly large, it is still easy to get lost with all the twists and turns. I would recommend either printing out a map with a rough trail system or using an app, or both at the same time.This recording follows up the unmarked access trail straight uphill for the first leg. While not not difficult, it is rather steep. Once the access trail ends the rest of this loop is very manageable, with plenty of little ups and downs. At the end of the access trail, take a right onto the Tricky Turn Trail, after 0.2-miles Tricky Turn merges with the Tinker Trail, take a left and follow the Tinker Trail 0.3 miles to the summit. The summit is marked by a pile of large rocks with a small sign on a tree nearby, roughly 8-feet off the ground. When the leaves are not on the tree the summit offers a glimpse of the Mt Holyoke Range, Mt Norwottuck, Long Mountain, the Connecticut River and more. There is trail leading beyond the rocks back down the hill and another trail that loops right at the rocks, this recording takes the left continuing on the Tricky Turn Trail for a very short distance. Take a left after roughly 100-feet onto the Christmas Trail. We almost missed this as the the trail was not very worn down. There were just enough displaced leaves near the edge of the hill that looked like a trail. Once you walk out about 15 yards you will notice the trail more clearly as it slips along the edge of small ridge.
Continue down the Christmas Trail in a series of small switchbacks offering a view down into a small valley. This trail can be thin at times and when the leaves are down, not entirely easy to follow. After 0.6 miles there will be a trail leading to the right, this leads to the Wall Street Trail, which loops back southwest towards the Tinker Trail and the Glenna Bell Trail. This right turn also offers the Tessman Loop Trail which extends further south and loops back to the Hunter Trail that this recording ultimately connects to. Ignoring the right-hand turn trail, the Christmas Trail continues its zigzag down the valley towards the Hunter Trail. After roughly 0.2-miles there is a short cutoff trail to the Hunter Trail, if you miss this, worry not, after 0.25-miles there is a junction the connects you to the Hunter Trail. This junction has several trails leading in different directions including the only marked trail - the Northside Trail (white blazes). The Hunter trail is the first left at the intersection and flows naturally from the Christmas Trail.
Once merged onto the Hunter Trail, the main trail leading from the parking lot is 0.5-miles away. The Trick Turn Trail crosses from the left and merges briefly, and continues on to the right at the 0.4-mile mark.
Moving beyond the Tricky Trail Trail crossings there is only 1 other trail split to the left, this can be taken is desired, and will merge with the access trail or skip this turn and continue back to the main trail. At the main trail you should be able to see your car 0.1-miles away.
Dogs and biking are both allowed on this trail.
